Engineering Project 2 - ELE00052I
Module summary
This module further develops the team-working skills introduced in the first-year project, this time applied to a robot that can follow a maze and select the shortest route from start to finish. The project will require mechanical, electrical and software design and construction. Selection of appropriate materials, including sensors and hardware, as well as the controlling electronics. Finally you will assemble the parts, and test the robot’s ability to solve and navigate mazes ready to compete with other robots.
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
To build on the first year group project and further develop student skills in group project working. In particular, students will work in groups on a product involving the development of a maze solving robot. Students will gain hands-on experience with designing machine vision algorithms, microcontrollers, and problem-solving algorithms capable of determining the optimal solution to a problem.
Module learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
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Select and engage with technical literature in the pursuance of the project, critically evaluating and applying the information as appropriate
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Analyse a complex requirements document, and devise specifications and a response to tender document for a maze solving robot that may be offered for sale as a finished product or a kit
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Apply knowledge of mathematics and electronics to the design of a complex system for data gathering. The data will be processed and mapped to be used for maze analysis
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Apply a systems approach to the design of a complex system to design innovative solutions to a complex problem involving hardware, software, and system interconnection, considering stakeholder requirements. (Commercial, legislative, and diverse users)
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Select and apply appropriate mechanical, electronic and programming techniques to model a complex system, and recognise and discuss in reports the limitations of the approaches. Solutions are required to autonomously navigate a maze of known dimensions, map the maze, analyse to find the fastest route to the maze centre and negotiate the fasted route.
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Use workshop tools and laboratory test gear to evaluate and debug designs
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Select appropriate materials and engineering technologies and processes to put their design into manufacturing
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Demonstrate the technical and practical impact of engineering design on new products on society, planning a business and product with respect to sustainability (including the full product lifecycle), ethical design, inclusion (especially in user design), risk (by following and documenting a risk management process) and security
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Describe and reflect on the role and effectiveness of quality management systems in a project
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Apply knowledge of engineering management principles to a successful project specifically including project planning and management.
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Function effectively as part of a team and describe the skills required for successful team-working, evaluating and reflecting on their own performance and that of the group
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Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences on complex engineering matters, and discuss the effectiveness of that communication in mentoring meetings
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Plan and record self-learning and development, via weekly record-keeping, and reflection on the team and their own skills in the final report
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Discuss security measures generally and specifically those employed with respect to safety and protection of product intellectual property.
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Discuss any general ethical issues which may be present in the conduct of this project. You should also consider the ethics of the profit motive in commercial engineering.
Module content
The project is based on the international competition for micro mouse maze racing robots. The project will initially analyse the Pololu 3Pi line following robot and use the ideas to develop individual robots capable of following mazes made up of walls. Understanding and developing the theory is only the starting point, building and refining the robot to operate autonomously will present an additional set of practical challenges.
Indicative assessment
Task | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework | 70.0 |
Groupwork | 30.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Module feedback
'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.
The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.
Statement of Feedback
Formative Feedback
Regular labs allow you to engage with the electronic interfacing and programming material and receive verbal help and feedback on your coding and design. Feedback will be provided throughout practical sessions by practical supervisors. This is also an opportunity to ask questions.
Emails to the Module Staff with Questions / Comments will be answered as soon as possible.
Weekly Meetings with the group’s Supervisor allows regular progress to be tracked, problems ironed out, questions to be asked, and plans to be made and checked. Feedback is also provided by second supervisors responding to weekly reports.
Summative Feedback
You will receive a customised feedback sheet, showing the mark
breakdown in each of the key areas being assessed:
For the
Initial Report (Group): Product idea & Design;
Specification; Group Organisation; Report quality.
For the
Interim Presentation (Group): Quality of
presentation; Demonstration of group work and cooperation; Artists’
impressions of final product; Answers to Questions.
For the
Final Report (Individual): Detailed description of
Product idea, Design and Specification; Descriptions of Individual
Contributions; Critical Analysis of Group Organisation; Overall Report
quality.
For the Demonstration Video (Group):
Effective demonstration of working (or partially working) product;
Video scripting, production & editing quality;
For each assignment, personalised feedback is given along with suggestions for improvement. The comments explain how well you have met the learning objectives, and also give you feedback about the things you could improve in future assignments.
Indicative reading
Refer to Wiki page for more information